Namtso Lake - World highest salt lake and biggest lake in Tibet

Namtso is 4718 meters above sea level and is the highest lake in the world, covering an area of 2.400 square kilometers. Behind the Nyachen Tangla mountain range, about 60 kilometers northwest of the Damshung District, is one of the three holy lakes in Tibet.

Namtso Lake – Largest and Highest Salt Lake

Namtso is located in Nakchu County, about 260 kilometers away from Lhasa City and about 60 kilometers away from Dangsong County. On way, you have to drive along the gravel road and climb the snow mountain. A road that can be washed away by heavy rain will make the road for low-floor trucks difficult to navigate.

Namtso means “Heavenly Lake” in Tibetan. Namtso Lake is more than 30 kilometers long from north to south and 70 kilometers from east to west, with a total area of more than 1,900 square kilometers. It is the second-largest salt lake in China. At an altitude of 4718 meters, it is also the highest alpine salt lake in the world, with a maximum depth of more than 33 meters. The lake water mainly comes from rain, melting ice, and snow from the Nyachentangla Mountains. And the inflowing curves and streams make the lake water very clean and transparent. The lake surface presents a clear blue sky, the lake and the world are combined into one, and tourists strolling along the lake are like being in a fairyland.

Folktales and Legend of Namtso Lake

At the end of the 3rd century and the beginning of the 4th century, Namtso became a lake that was abandoned due to the movement of the Himalayas and turned into a huge pool. Later, as the climate on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau became drier and drier, the area of Namtso has dropped sharply to this day.

Today, the beach of the lake is a beautiful natural pasture that provides ideal conditions for raising animals. It is also an ideal habitat for animals and birds. In early summer, flocks of wild ducks came here. Wild animals such as black bears, yaks, wild donkeys, bison, foxes, deer, and marmots often appear near the lake. The lake grows alpine scaly fish, and cordyceps, fritillary, snow lotus, and other valuable medicinal plants grow by the lake.

Religious Belief – Holy Lake Namtso

That’s at the end of the twelfth sheep. Buddhists, when the Tibetan Year of the Goat arrives, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas will hold Buddhist ceremonies on Namtso Lake. If a Buddhist went for a walk by the lake at least once this year, he would be much happier than he is now. In other years, he has done it ten thousand times.

In the Tibetan Year of the Sheep, many Buddhist monks and believers trek from other places to Namtso Lake, and after a ritual of walking around the lake, they found satisfaction, comfort, and happiness both physically and mentally.

This activity that lasts for several months usually reaches its peak on April 15th of the Tibetan Year of the Sheep. Namtso You can also visit Namtso Ranch, which is fascinated by its vastness, shepherd camps, and countless sheep. The caveat at the foot of Tashi Island in Namtso Lake is home to many lamas who meditate there with help from local Tibetans.

These will be interesting when you travel to Namtso Lake. There are no hotels along Namtso Lake. However, during peak tourist seasons, locals will set up a large number of tourist campsites, obviously Tibetan campsites, with prices ranging from 25 to 100 yuan per bed per day. However, if you suffer from altitude sickness and have not fully recovered, it is the best choice not to stay in Namtso Lake, because being at a high altitude will make your condition worse.